5 Bad Habits You Should Totally Kick in 2016

No more Insta-jealousy, okay?

Resolutions are one thing. Habit kicking is a whole different ball game. This year, instead of promising yourself you’re going to lose 25 lbs, start a nonprofit for dolphins with learning disabilities, and become close personal friends with Chris Hemsworth, (and then beating yourself up when it doesn’t happen) try to focus on a few important things you want to change. Think back over the past year — what habits do you harbor that bring you down in the long run? What do you do that brings toxicity into your life? They may not be the most obvious, but sometimes the habits we just get lazy and forget about are the worst for us. The first step to kicking a habit is identifying it and making a plan. Now, do any of these habits sound a little bit familiar…?

Being jealous of other people’s lives on social mediaWhat? Not me! I would never look longingly at a blogger's life and sob quietly to myself. Firstly, it’s OK — everyone does it. One second you’re having a peruse on your best friend’s cousin’s Instagram, the next you’re 27 weeks deep in some girl called Jenny’s feed who lives in L.A. and seems to have an incredible boyfriend and really bouncy hair. Then you look up from your phone and feel deeply unsatisfied with your own day. This is a hard habit to break, but it’s time we start. Studies have shown Social media is addictive, can make us feel extremely inadequate and can even make us actively unhappy.
The truth is, a lot of what we see on social media isn’t true — and we don’t mean just two layers of Valencia filter. People are literally starting to alter what they look like in order to gain approval from followers. This year, pledge to take everything you see on every one of your feeds with a pinch of salt.

Beating ourselves up because we aren’t a Victoria’s Secret model...or a Kardashian, or a Hadid. The list goes on. But you know what? That’s OK. Because what they say is true. Everyone is different, and it’s cool to be yourself. Models and other celebrities are speaking out about body image, trying to change the conversation. Everyone from Gigi to Ariana to Selena hit back at the media this year to say, back off, being yourself is the sexiest thing you can do. Now it’s your turn. Resist the tempting urge to compare yourself to crazy, most likely airbrushed standards. Make 2016 your strongest, most confident year yet.

Watching TV instead of readingOoh sorry, do we sound like your Grandmother? Tough. Deep down everyone knows it’s true — reading is relaxing, reduces stress, and improves your vocabulary. Of course we all need Netflix binges, but it’s important to take time to stretch your mind. Celebrities are surprisingly helping to lead the charge on this one, Instagramming their favorite reads and asking for suggestions. It doesn’t have to be a book either. When’s the last time you had a cup of coffee and read a newspaper, or a whole magazine cover to cover? Reading is a pleasure, it’s just easy to forget that with HBO GO too readily available…

Wasting money on impulse purchasesHas anyone else noticed it’s getting easier and easier to buy things online? Chrome remembers our credit card numbers so that we don’t even have to get out of bed to click “Buy Now.” Which is scary. Millennials are getting a bad name for themselves for not saving money as well as spending above their means. There is more pressure than ever to have the latest bag or new pair of shoes. But it’s not making us happy. It’s just making us spend more. This year, try to prioritize things that will actually last — investment pieces. Even better, try to save. Hard in the short term, awesome in the long run.

Bad PostureYou shouldn’t need a reason to break this bad habit, but if you do, here it is. New research shows that all the time we spend staring down at our phones is terrible for our posture. (And mood, see #1!) All the time we spend with our necks at an unnatural angle could lead to..wait for it…humps on our backs later on in life. Eek! No thanks. On the flip side, good posture and even “power posing’ is not only better for our bodies, but can lead to less stress, and a more confident first impression. That sounds like the better option. Set a reminder three times a day on your phone to stand up straight. You’ll have kicked the habit in no time.